Association of digital communication network customers with network signaling tunnels

ABSTRACT

A communication system is provided which includes a digital communication network having a network endpoint and a signaling server. The network endpoint is coupled with the signaling server by way of signaling tunnels through the digital communication network. A first of the signaling tunnels is defined by a first network address for the network endpoint and a second network address for the signaling server. Also, the network endpoint is configured to aggregate signaling associated exclusively with a customer over the first signaling tunnel, and the signaling server is configured to associate the customer with the first signaling tunnel.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Aspects of the invention relate generally to digital communicationnetworks, and more particularly to association of digital communicationnetwork customers with a network signaling tunnel.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The Internet has become a well-known and readily-accepted source of aplethora of information, from simple written documents and photographicimages, to various forms of multimedia, for government, commercial, andretail customers alike. In addition, the Internet has more recently heldthe promise of real-time voice communication, the use of which may beless expensive than the typical phone service provided by a PublicSwitched Telephone Network (PSTN).

However, PSTNs, by virtue of providing phone service for many decades,have already generated well-tested solutions to various challengesinherent in voice communication services. Many of these challenges arenot associated with the delivery of the service itself, but insteadinvolve more peripherally-oriented tasks, such as billing and security.Accordingly, Internet-based voice communication networks, such as thoseemploying Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP), may lag behind PSTNs inproviding such functionality in a robust manner due to the correspondingtechnology being relatively new.

For example, with respect to billing large customers, PSTNs normallyacquire information from switches within the network to determine whichcustomer is to be billed, and for what amount, for each phone callutilizing the network. FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a portionof a PSTN 1 employing a switch 2 for switching multipletime-domain-multiplexed (TDM) trunk groups 4 connected to customers 6 a,6 b and 6 c onto the remainder of the PSTN 1. Also, a billing system 8is coupled with the switch 2, as well as other switches and componentsof the PSTN 1, to gather information regarding the phone calls passingthrough the PSTN 1 to generate bills for phone service usage. Typically,since each of the customers 6 may be associated with one or more of thetrunk groups 4, which serve as bearer channels for the actual voice databeing transmitted across the PSTN 1, the billing system 8 may identifyeach customer 6 by way of information from the switch 2 indicating theidentity of the switch 2 and the trunk group 4 carrying the particularcall or group of calls to be billed. Also, the switch 2 may supply aduration of the call to allow the billing system 8 to determine how muchto bill the customer 6.

Identifying a large customer by way of circuit connections is a somewhatnatural consequence of PSTNs employing circuit-switching to connect onecustomer to another. However, due to the general packet-switching natureof the Internet, however, other methods that provide efficient andsecure billing processes are likely required. In addition, varioussecurity threats, such as theft of service, IP address spoofing, andother techniques closely associated with the Internet, impart additionalincentive to provide secure billing and similar functions associatedwith Internet phone service.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the invention, described below, provides acommunication system which includes a digital communication networkhaving a network endpoint and a signaling server, wherein the networkendpoint is coupled with the signaling server via signaling tunnelsthrough the digital communication network. A first of the signalingtunnels is defined by a first network address for the network endpointand a second network address for the signaling server. The networkendpoint is configured to aggregate signaling associated exclusivelywith a customer over the first signaling tunnel, and the signalingserver is configured to associate the customer with the first signalingtunnel.

Another embodiment provides a signaling server for a communicationsystem which includes an interface and a processor. The interface isconfigured to couple the signaling server with a network endpoint viasignaling tunnels through the digital communication network, wherein afirst of the signaling tunnels is defined by a first network address forthe network endpoint and a second network address for the signalingserver. Also, the network endpoint is configured to aggregate signalingassociated exclusively with a customer over the first signaling tunnel.The processor is configured to associate the customer with the firstsignaling tunnel.

Further, another embodiment of the invention provides a method foridentifying a customer of a digital communication network. A networkendpoint is coupled with a signaling server over signaling tunnelsthrough the digital network. A first of the signaling tunnels is definedby a first network address for the network endpoint and a second networkaddress for the signaling server. Signaling associated exclusively witha customer is aggregated over the first signaling tunnel. The customeris then associated with the first signaling tunnel.

Additional embodiments and advantages of the present invention will beascertained by those skilled in the art upon perusal of the followingdetailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a portion of a Public SwitchedTelephone Network from the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of a communication system includinga digital communication network according to an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a method for identifying a customer of adigital communication network according to an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram of a signaling server of a digitalcommunication network according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a simplified block diagram of a communication system includinga digital communication network according to another embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram of another communication systemincluding a digital communication network according to anotherembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the invention, a communication system 100, is shown inthe simplified block diagram of FIG. 2. The system 100 includes adigital communication network 102 having a network endpoint 104 and asignaling server 106. The network endpoint 104 provides a point ofpresence on the digital communication network 102 for customersutilizing the network 102. The network endpoint 104 is coupled with thesignaling server 106 via signaling tunnels 108 through the digitalcommunication network 102. By way of this signaling, the signalingserver 6 sets up communication sessions between the network endpoint 104and other portions of the network 102. The signaling tunnels 108 betweenthe network endpoint 104 and the signaling server 106 are logicalconnections which carry signaling for communications through the digitalcommunication network 102, as opposed to bearer channels which carry theactual payload information to be transported through the network 102.

A first 110 of the signaling tunnels 108 is defined by a first networkaddress of the network endpoint 104 and a second network address for thesignaling server 106. Other signaling tunnels 108 between the networkendpoint 104 and the signaling server 106 are specified by otheraddresses also associated with the network endpoint 104 and thesignaling server 106.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the network endpoint 104 is configured toaggregate signaling associated exclusively with a customer over thefirst signaling tunnel 110. Also, the signaling server 106 is configuredto associate the customer with the first signaling tunnel 110.

Another embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a method 200 for identifying acustomer of a digital communication network, includes coupling a networkendpoint with a signaling server over signaling tunnels through thedigital communication network (operation 202). A first of the signalingtunnels is defined by a first network address for the network endpointand a second network address for the signaling server (operation 204).Signaling associated exclusively with a customer is aggregated over thefirst signaling tunnel (operation 206). The customer is then associatedwith the first signaling tunnel (operation 208).

Another embodiment, a signaling server 300 for a digital communicationnetwork, is illustrated in FIG. 4. The signaling server 300 includes aninterface 302 configured to couple the signaling server 300 with anetwork endpoint (not shown in FIG. 4) via signaling tunnels 306,wherein a first 308 of the signaling tunnels 306 is defined by a firstnetwork address for the network endpoint and a second network addressfor the signaling server 300. The network endpoint is configured toaggregate signaling associated exclusively with a customer over thefirst signaling tunnel 308. Also provided is a processor 304 configuredto associate the customer with the first signaling tunnel 308.

FIG. 5 provides another embodiment of a communications system 400, whichincludes a digital communication network 402. In one embodiment, thedigital communication network 402 is an IP network operating as a VoIPnetwork. The digital communication network 402 includes a first networkendpoint 403, a second network endpoint 404, and a signaling server 406.A greater number of network endpoints may be employed within the digitalcommunication network 402, but are not shown to present a cleardescription of the embodiment. In one embodiment, each of the networkendpoints 403, 404 and the signaling server 406 may include a softswitchor a media gateway controller. Also included in the endpoints 403, 404may be a media gateway for facilitating a connection between atelephonic device and the digital communication network 402. The networkendpoints 403, 404 each provide a point of presence for one or morecustomers for sending and receiving communications via the digitalcommunication network 402. The signaling server 406 is operativelycoupled with the network endpoints 403, 404 by way of signaling to allowand control the communications.

The signaling may include commands from the network endpoints 403, 404to register telephonic devices with the signaling server 406 for laterengagement with communications over the network 402. The networkendpoints 403, 404 and the signaling server 406 may also send variousmessages for initiating communication, for inviting a telephonic deviceto engage in communication, for termination of communication, and thelike. In one embodiment, the signaling between the network endpoints403, 404 and the signaling server 406 conforms to the Session InitiationProtocol (SIP) employed in many VoIP systems. Other signaling protocolsmay be employed to similar end in other embodiments.

Continuing with FIG. 5, the first network endpoint 403 is coupled withthe signaling server 406 by way of a first group of signaling tunnels408, while the second network endpoint 404 is coupled with the signalingserver 406 via a second group of signaling tunnels 412. Each signalingtunnel 408, 412 is identified by way of a network address of one of thenetwork endpoints 403, 404 and a network address of the signaling server406. Each signaling tunnel 408, 412 may be employed to encapsulate andtransfer a signaling command, as described above, between the endpoints403, 404 and the signaling server 406. Also, each tunnel 408, 412 istypically a logical connection between a network endpoint 403, 404 andthe signaling server 406, as opposed to a dedicated, hardwired circuit.

Coupling the first network endpoint 403 and the second network endpoint404 is a bearer channel 416 for transferring the actual communicationspayload between the endpoints 403, 404. In one embodiment, the bearerchannel 416 is a tunnel, as described above, thus providing a logicalconnection across the digital communication network 402 between theendpoints 403, 404.

The various signaling tunnels 408, 412, the bearer channel 416, as wellas other connections through the digital communication network 402, maybe implemented by a variety of devices, such as IP routers and othercommunications equipment typically associated with an IP-based network.

Outside the digital communication network 402, the first networkendpoint 403 is coupled with a first telephonic device 422 by way of afirst switch 424. Similarly, the second network endpoint 404 is coupledwith a second telephonic device 432 via a second switch 434. Also, afirst connection 426 couples the first switch 424 and the first networkendpoint 403, while a second connection 436 couples the second switch434 with the second network endpoint 404. In one embodiment, the firstconnection 426 and the second connection 436 are TDM connectionscarrying communications being transferred to and from the digitalcommunication network 402, as well as signaling associated with thecommunications. Other networks, such as other digital communicationnetworks or collections of telephonic devices, may be coupled witheither of the network endpoints 403, 404 to access the digitalcommunication network 402.

In the example of FIG. 5, the first telephonic device 422 resides withina PSTN 420, while the second telephonic device 432 resides within awireless telephone network 430. The first telephonic device 422 may thusbe a standard wireline telephone, while the second telephonic device 432may be a cell phone. Other types of telephonic devices may be employedin this or other implementations. Also, each of the networks 420, 430may typically service hundreds or thousands of telephonic devices inaddition to those specifically depicted in FIG. 5. In other embodiments,the network 420, 430 may be a lesser number of telephonic devicescoupled with the first network endpoint 403 or the second networkendpoint 404 by way of a private branch exchange (PBX) or similardevice.

Coupled with the signaling server 406 is a billing system 440 forbilling customers that utilize the digital communication network 402.The billing system 440 may include a single computer system, acollection of interconnected computer systems, or any other digitalprocessing arrangement capable of generating bills for the customers.

In handling the various signaling necessary to allow and controlcommunications across the digital communication network 402, the firstnetwork endpoint 403 is configured to aggregate signaling associatedexclusively with a first customer over a first signaling tunnel 410 ofthe first group of signaling tunnels 408. In situations in which thefirst signaling tunnel 410 possesses the capacity to handle asignificant number of telephone calls simultaneously across the network402, institutional customers, such as large corporations, may beparticularly well-suited for application of the embodiments describedherein. In some cases, a large customer may be associated with two ormore of the first group of signaling tunnels 408 to accommodate largecall volumes involving the customer. In like fashion, the second networkendpoint 404 may aggregate signaling associated with the first customer,or another customer, over a second signaling tunnel 414 of the secondgroup of signaling tunnels 412. In one embodiment, as other telephonicdevices associated with additional customers may be coupled with one orboth of the network endpoints 403, 404, each of the other signalingtunnels 408, 412 may be associated exclusively with one of theseadditional customers.

Given the aggregation of the signaling associated with the firstcustomer onto the first signaling tunnel 410, the signaling server 406may be configured to associate the first customer with the firstsignaling tunnel 410. Such an association may protect the customer fromattacks associated with the customer's use of the digital communicationnetwork 402. For example, theft of service attacks may be reduced, sinceany additional signaling taking place over a signaling tunnel 408, 412other than the first signaling tunnel 410 may be identified as not beingassociated with the first customer, regardless of any addresses that maybe “spoofed,” or faked, within the additional signaling.

In addition to associating the first customer with the first signalingtunnel 410, other signaling associated with the first and othercustomers that has been aggregated onto other signaling tunnels 408, 412may allow association of the respective customers with theircorresponding tunnels 408, 412 as well.

A service provider supporting the digital communication network 402 maybenefit from this association. In one embodiment, the signaling server406 may provide billing information to the billing system 440 based onthe association. For example, presuming the signaling server 406 has setup a telephone call over the bearer channel 416 and the networkendpoints 403, 404 between the first telephonic device 422 and thesecond telephonic device 432, the signaling server 406 may be cognizantof the association of the first customer with the first telephonicdevice 422 by way of the signaling between the first network endpoint403 and the signaling server 406 occurring over the first signalingtunnel 410. As a result, the signaling server 406 may also be configuredto provide an identification of the first customer in conjunction withthe telephone call to the billing system 440. Also, the second networkendpoint 404 may be aggregating signaling related to a second customerassociated with the second telephonic device 432 over the secondsignaling tunnel 414, thus allowing the signaling server 406 toassociate the opposing end of the telephone call with the secondcustomer, and therefore identifying the second customer associated withthe telephone call to the billing system 440.

In one embodiment, the information being provided to the billing system440 is presented in the form of a call data record (CDR) directlyindicating the identity of the first (and possibly second) customer. Inanother implementation, the signaling server 406 may instead supply anidentifier for the first signaling tunnel 410, such as a “tunnel name”or “trunk name” associated with the first signaling tunnel 410, by whichthe billing system 440 could discern the identify of the customer.

In addition, as a result of the signaling occurring in conjunction withthe telephone call, the signaling server 406 may provide otherinformation pertinent to any billing associated with the call. In oneembodiment, this additional information may include, but is not limitedto, the duration of the call and the bandwidth allocated to the call.

Based on the identity of the first, and possibly second, customerassociated with the telephone call, the signaling server 406 may alsogenerate a rate plan for use by the billing system 440 based on thecustomers identified with the telephone call. For example, the firstcustomer may be required to pay the entire cost of the telephone call,based on a previous arrangement with the service provider supporting thedigital communication network 402, and on various circumstancessurrounding the call. One rate may apply for calls originating from thefirst customer, while inbound calls to the customer may indicate adifferent rate. Also, the identity of the second customer, if known bythe signaling server 406, may also affect the amount paid by the firstcustomer. Also, the cost of the call may be paid entirely by onecustomer or the other, or may be split in some fashion between the twocustomers, depending on the identity of the customers involved in thecall.

The aggregation of signaling over the first signaling tunnel 410associated with the first customer may also allow the signaling server406 to set a particular traffic capacity for the first customer over thefirst signaling tunnel 410. For example, the signaling server 406 mayset a maximum number of simultaneous calls allocated to the customerthat can be controlled over the first signaling tunnel 410. Suchallocation of capacity among customers may benefit both the customer andservice provider, as the customer may be guaranteed that level ofcapacity for traffic over the digital communication network 402, whilethe service provider is able to apportion the bandwidth available acrossthe network 402 via such a mechanism according to customer size, rateplans, and other factors.

Continuing with FIG. 5, the aggregation by the first network endpoint403 of signaling over the first signaling tunnel 410 for telephone callsidentified with a particular customer may be performed by way of a phonenumber associated with the telephonic device 422. In one embodiment, thefirst network endpoint 403 aggregates the signaling by determining theidentity of the telephonic device 422 via automatic numberidentification (ANI). In one particular example, the entire phone numbermay be compared against a database supplied by the customer to determineif the telephonic device 422 is associated with the customer. In anotherimplementation, the prefix, area code, or the “information digits”portion of the ANI may be employed to perform the aggregation.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of another embodiment of a communicationsystem 500 employing the digital communication network 402 discussedabove in conjunction with FIG. 5. However, in this particular example,the first network endpoint 403 is coupled via a switch 524 to a firsttelephonic device 522 residing at a first customer site 520. Similarly,the second network endpoint 404 is coupled through a switch 534 to atelephonic device 532 located at a second customer site 530. Under thisscenario, the first network endpoints 403 may aggregate signalingassociated with the first telephonic device 522, as well as any othertelephonic device at the customer site 520, with the customer associatedwith the site 520, by way of identifying any traffic being received fromthe switch 524 with the customer. In one example, the switch 524 may becoupled with a particular port of the first network endpoint 403,allowing the first network endpoint 403 to aggregate any trafficreceived by way of the port over the first signaling tunnel 410. Thesame is true regarding the second network endpoint 404 and the secondcustomer site 530. In one example, the customer sites 520, 530 areassociated with the same customer, thus allowing a measure of securityfor communications between the sites 520, 530, as described above.

In reference to FIG. 6, the first network endpoint 403 and/or the secondnetwork endpoint 404 may be located remotely from the first customersite 520 and/or the second customer site 530, respectively. In otherimplementations, one or both of the network endpoints 403, 404 may belocated on the associated customer site 520, 530, especially if thecustomer site 520, 530 is associated with a large number of telephonicdevices 522, 532.

With respect to any of the embodiments disclosed herein, a networkendpoint may take any of several different forms, depending upon thenature of the equipment to which the network endpoint is attached. Forexample, if the network endpoint receives SIP signaling from a switch oran IP phone, the network endpoint may be a router configured toencapsulate the signaling for transfer over the selected signalingtunnel. In another implementation, the network endpoint may receive PSTNsignaling, such as that associated with Signaling System 7 (SS7), andthen transform the signaling to SIP or another protocol associated withVoIP. In yet another scenario, the network endpoint may itself be an IPphone capable of providing the necessary signaling for transfer over thedigital communication network.

While several embodiments of the invention have been discussed herein,other embodiments encompassed within the scope of the invention arepossible. For example, while particular mention has been made oftelephonic devices for conducting voice communications, other forms ofcommunication, such as video, audio, and data communications, may alsobenefit from various embodiments. In addition, aspects of one embodimentmay be combined with aspects of other embodiments disclosed above toproduce additional embodiments not heretofore discussed. Thus, while thepresent invention has been described in the context of specificembodiments, such descriptions are provided for illustration and notlimitation. Accordingly, the proper scope of the present invention isdelimited only by the following claims.

1. A communication system, comprising: a digital communication networkcomprising a first network endpoint, a second network endpoint, and asignaling server, wherein the first network endpoint is coupled with thesignaling server over a first signaling tunnel through the digitalcommunication network and the second network endpoint is coupled withthe signaling server over a second signaling tunnel through the digitalcommunication network; a billing system in communication with thesignaling server; wherein the first signaling tunnel is defined by afirst network address for the first network endpoint and a secondnetwork address for the signaling server; wherein the first networkendpoint is configured to aggregate signaling associated exclusivelywith a customer over the first signaling tunnel; wherein the signalingserver is configured to associate the customer with the first signalingtunnel; wherein the signaling server is configured to set up, via thefirst and second signaling tunnels, a telephone call between the firstand second network endpoints over a bearer channel through the digitalcommunication network; and wherein the signaling server is configured toprovide an identification of the customer with the telephone call to thebilling system, wherein the identification of the customer comprises acall data record comprising an identification of the first signalingtunnel.
 2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the digitalcommunication network comprises a Voice over Internet Protocol network.3. The communication system of claim 1, wherein each of the firstnetwork endpoint and the signaling server comprises one of a softswitchand a media gateway controller.
 4. The communication system of claim 1,wherein the signaling conforms to a Session Initiation Protocol.
 5. Thecommunication system of claim 1, wherein the signaling server is furtherconfigured to provide at least one of a duration and a bandwidth of thetelephone call to the billing system.
 6. The communication system ofclaim 1, wherein the first network endpoint comprises one of anoriginating end and a terminating end of the telephone call.
 7. Thecommunication system of claim 1, wherein the customer is also associatedwith the second signaling tunnel.
 8. The communication system of claim1, wherein the signaling server is further configured to generate a rateplan based upon the first and second signaling tunnels.
 9. Thecommunication system of claim 1, wherein the signaling server is furtherconfigured to set a traffic capacity for the first signaling tunnel. 10.The communication system of claim 9, wherein the traffic capacitycomprises a number of simultaneous calls.
 11. A signaling server for adigital communication network, the signaling server comprising: aninterface configured to couple the signaling server with a first networkendpoint over a first signaling tunnel through the digital communicationnetwork and to couple the signaling server with a second networkendpoint over a second signaling tunnel through the digitalcommunication network, wherein the first signaling tunnel is defined bya first network address for the first network endpoint and a secondnetwork address for the signaling server, and wherein the first networkendpoint is configured to aggregate signaling associated exclusivelywith a customer over the first signaling tunnel; and a processorconfigured to associate the customer with the first signaling tunnel andto set up, via the first and second signaling tunnels, a telephone callover a bearer channel of the digital communication network between thefirst network endpoint and the second network endpoint, and to providean identification of the customer with the telephone call to a billingsystem, wherein the identification of the customer comprises a call datarecord comprising an identification of the first signaling tunnel. 12.The signaling server of claim 11, wherein the digital communicationnetwork comprises a Voice over Internet Protocol network.
 13. Thesignaling server of claim 11, wherein the signaling conforms to aSession Initiation Protocol.
 14. The signaling server of claim 11,wherein the processor is further configured to provide at least one of aduration and a bandwidth of the telephone call to the billing system.15. The signaling server of claim 11, wherein the customer is alsoassociated with the second signaling tunnel.
 16. The signaling server ofclaim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to generate a rateplan based upon the first and second signaling tunnels.
 17. Thesignaling server of claim 11, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to set a traffic capacity for the first signaling tunnel. 18.The signaling server of claim 17, wherein the traffic capacity comprisesa number of simultaneous calls.
 19. A method for identifying a customerof a digital communication network, the method comprising: coupling afirst network endpoint with a signaling server over a first signalingtunnel through the digital communication network; coupling a secondnetwork endpoint with the signaling server over a second signalingtunnel through the digital communication network; defining the firstsignaling tunnel by a first network address for the first networkendpoint and a second network address for the signaling server;aggregating signaling associated exclusively with a customer over thefirst signaling tunnel; associating the customer with the firstsignaling tunnel; setting up, via the first and second signalingtunnels, a telephone call over a bearer channel through the digitalcommunication network between the first and second network endpoints;and providing an identification of the customer with the telephone callto a billing system, wherein providing the identification of thecustomer comprises providing a call data record comprising anidentification of the first signaling tunnel.
 20. The method of claim19, wherein the digital communication network comprises a Voice overInternet Protocol network.
 21. The method of claim 19, wherein thesignaling conforms to a Session Initiation Protocol.
 22. The method ofclaim 19, further comprising providing at least one of a duration and abandwidth of the telephone call to the billing system.
 23. The method ofclaim 19, wherein the first network endpoint comprises one of anoriginating end and a terminating end of the telephone call.
 24. Themethod of claim 19, wherein the customer is also associated with thesecond signaling tunnel.
 25. The method of claim 19, further comprisinggenerating a rate plan based upon the first signaling tunnel and thesecond signaling tunnel.
 26. The method of claim 19, further comprisingsetting a traffic capacity for the first signaling tunnel.
 27. Themethod of claim 26, wherein the traffic capacity comprises a number ofsimultaneous calls.
 28. A storage medium comprising instructionsexecutable on a processor for employing the method of claim 19.